I was taught both, and to use them as I felt they were needed. I'd probably take a corner with the brake, put on a straight road that came out from a 60 to a 40 say, I'd probably slow the engine down and slightly prematurely drop down a gear.

Having said that, I've not driven since I past my test two and a half years ago...

I slow down in gear by taking my foot off the gas, but I don't change down so that it lurches...

It doesn't lurch because I (roughly) match the engine revs before I release the clutch. If you change down too early, then that's a problem - so I don't.

I tend to not bother, just leave it in gear till it's just above tick-over and put the clutch in. Nice and smooth with no jerks at all.

When I need to slow down, I may:

- take the foot off the accelerator +/- change down (at the appropriate rev range)
- use the brakes to slow the car down +/- change down to the appropriate gear for the speed.

It depends entirely on the situation. If I'm driving somewhere I know well and it's quiet, and I need to take a corner/roundabout, I'll usually brake and change into the lowermost appropriate gear (eg 2nd, 3rd) and then take the corner using a little throttle. Taking a corner using (light!) throttle helps keep the car gripped to the road and it handles better.

Try it the next time you drive - don't just take your feet off the brake and throttle. Apply a small amount of throttle through the corner.

Now I actually come to think about it, I suspect I use a combination of engine and foot braking, depending on my speed, the upcoming "thing" that I'm slowing down for and the aftermath. I will have to check next time I'm driving but with the above caveat I will usually coast-slow in gear until I need to either change down and accelerate again or come to a complete halt.

It's completely different driving Horace than any of my previous cars though, he's a road-hog and doesn't like slowing down so the foot brake is usually applied

I use engine braking only on hills.

I use the handbrake cos im not normal.

All the time?

Mark

only for tight corners, in doing so has loosened the handbrake cable ;( mega fail

If you're going fast enough on public roads to need to use a handbrake in a tight corner then you're going too fast.This'll happen anyway with normal brake wear and tear, but using it for specific turns like you clain you do will indeed loosen it considerably quicker - as you've seemingly found out.

Mark

well its all for fun and I only do it on semi gritty countryside roads where I can see far ahead...... not putting literally anyone in danger etc, im no lunatic

How can you see far ahead if it's a tight bend?

Mark

the way the roads are layed out, for example a hairpin where its on a slight angle and so when your approaching the hairpin you can see the track beside you as you drive farmyard area